Titans' Lead Slips Away at No. 12 UC Irvine

IRVINE, CA -
UC Irvine scored twice within a three-minute span midway through the second half, erasing a one-goal deficit and lifting the host and No. 12-ranked Anteaters to a 3-2 victory over visiting Cal State Fullerton to close out the 2010 regular season for both teams on Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium.

The Titans finished their season at 6-13 overall and 3-5 in Big West Conference play for a sixth place tie in the final table. UC Irvine improved to 16-1-2 overall on the season and completed the first perfect season in conference history at 8-0.

Senior Christina Murillo had given Fullerton a 2-1 lead at the break after converting on a penalty kick in the 28th minute for her eighth score of the season and the advantage held well into the second half before the Aneaters scored back-to-back goals within three minutes of one another to clinch the win.

CoCo Goodson tied the match in the 58th minute with her seventh of the year, heading home a corner kick from teammate Alyssa Humphrey to make it a 2-2 contest. Tanya Taylor, the team's leading scorer entering the day, then put the Anteaters ahead for good in the 61st minute, converting on the right side off passes from teammates Judy Christopher and Mar Rodriguez for the game-winner.

Fullerton, which held the powerful UCI offense to just nine shots on the afternoon, got on the board quickly in the first half as sophomore Brisa Gonzalez scored for the second time this season, capitalizing on a misplay by the Anteaters' defense and sending home a pass from teammate Jennifer Smith in the 15th minute.

The Titans' lead, however, didn't last long as Devon Delarosa put home a cross from teammate Dana Sanderlin just 30 seconds later to tie the match at one apiece. It was Delarosa's second goal of the year.

Taylor had a match-high four shots to lead all players for the Anteaters while Gonzalez, Danielle Bitonti, and Lauren Kelly each had a pair of shots for Fullerton.